3 men arrested in online child-sex sting

Detectives say a University of Florida student and two other men from Gainesville have been caught in an online child-sex sting over the past weekend.

WCJB reports officials have arrested and accused 40-year-old Richard Ashcraft, 23-year-old Benjamin Parker and 21-year-old Lance Kriete of traveling and planning to have a sexual encounter with a child.

Detective David Tate with the Alachua County Sheriff's office says with operation "Night light," each undercover deputy sometimes receives more than 100 replies.

Tate said once the offender goes as far as meeting the child, they are then arrested.

"It's impossible to stereotype or to profile this type of person because they are all over society," said Tate.

Tate said most offenders may also send vulgar messages and some even send lewd pictures of themselves.

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